Zanzibar Affairs [‎610r] (5/10)

The outstanding debt to the house of Jairam, on the 22nd August 1871, or
before the new arrangement, was as follows :—
1. Balance of Syud Majid J s debt undischarged
2. Liabilities incurred to enable Syud Burgash to take over
the ships of war, palace, plantations, &c.
3. Old private debt of Syud Burgash before his accession
4. New debt incurred by Syud Burgash since his accession
Total Liabilities
$
Cents.
114,300
18|
391,004
50
13,164
75
120,533
7H
540,002
81i
By the settlement effected on the renewal of the right to farm the customs
revenue dating for five years from the 23rd August 1871, $ 340,002-80 of the
above liability was cancelled by Ludda, and the balance of $200,000 con
solidated under a written acknowledgment of obligation, which, however, bears no
interest, while the customs remain in Jairam’s hands or for the term of five years.
Syud Burgash has also discharged $ 280,000 of the trust debts owing
by Syud Majid to the younger brothers, and this is probably the last they will
ever receive.
Even with the aid obtained from Ludda, His Highness has been obliged to
part with many of the landed estates formerly in Syud Majid’s hands; the
average yearly produce of those left with him not exceeding now $ 10,000,
which with $300,000, yearly rent of customs, makes a total sum of $ 310,000
(£65,263-3-2), or an income $15,000 less than that of his predecessor for the
tax levied on the Hadima of the island has been remitted. Syud Burgash has,
however, effected a saving by stopping political pensions formerly paid to such
as Syud Suliman bin Hamed, who received $ 5,000 yearly, and others of lesser
sums, and he has as yet refused assistance to the insolent beggars from Oman
who obtained so much from Syud Majid in later years. This retrenchment,
however, with the present Sultan amounts in many cases to meanness, and is
most impolitic in dealing with those independent of him, but whose interest
it is to conciliate.
The Sultan’s present monthly expenditure on ships, soldiers, &c., &c.,
amounts to $ 22,000, or $ 264,000 yearly, leaving a margin far too small for
contingencies and no provision for gratuities to his brother Toorkee at Muscat,
still less for the payment of any regular subsidy which it would be for many
other reasons most impolitic to re-establish.
The information I have gained regarding the means of other members of
the royal family shows that their incomes are in many cases not sufficient for
their support. Of the male children of Syud Saeed there are now ten alive; of
these, two are in Muscat and eight in Zanzibar.
Abdool Azeez, now with Syud Toorkee in Muscat, has an estate here, but his
property is so deeply mortgaged to Ludda as to be worthless.
Next to Syud Burgash in age comes Syud Khuleefa, the favourite brother of
Syud Majid, a lad of no energy, but personally popular; his property is worth
about $ 19,000, but, with a mortgage of $ 7,000 on it, his income cannot
exceed £200 per annum.
Syud Ali has an estate worth $ 35,000, mortgaged to Ludda for $ 3,300.
Syud Abbas, an active lad, who speaks English very well, but cannot read
or write any language, has an estate worth very little.
Among the youngest, Syud Abderab is perhaps the most independent, his
estate being worth $ 88,000, with a mortgage on it of only $9,000.
No care whatever has been taken with the education of these young
lads who are purposely left in ignorance and. kept as much as possible from
w ith people; and any attempts I have made to alter this system have
proved fruitless.
~rrr-rs^-.